Latest news with #InternationalFederationofJournalists
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IFJ urges immediate review of PECA by SC
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Supreme Court to urgently review the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), citing what it says are escalating threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country. In a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan, the IFJ says that media professionals in Pakistan are facing mounting dangers while performing their professional duties. It points out that journalists are being subjected to legal cases, harassment, and threats under the PECA law. The IFJ also sent copies of the letter to the prime minister, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), and the president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). It reminds that Pakistan's is a signatory to international conventions, which obligate it to protect fundamental rights. The IFJ letter has noted that recent amendments to PECA have granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) powers to act without a formal complaint - a move, it warns, could be used to silence dissent and target journalists arbitrarily. "These powers pose a serious risk of suppressing independent journalism and freedom of expression," the letter said, urging the top judge to direct the government to amend the law in consultation with PFUJ and other relevant stakeholders. The IFJ expressed concern over the bypassing of high courts through direct appeals to the apex court, calling it a "circumvention of judicial process." The IFJ highlighted the reported killing of at least seven journalists in Pakistan over the past year, while no perpetrators are convicted in cases involving attacks or threats. It cites the latest Press Freedom Report, which has documented 34 violations, including physical assaults, harassment, online hate campaigns, and intimidation.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IFJ calls on SC to review new PECA law amendments
Listen to article The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Supreme Court of Pakistan to urgently review the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), citing what it says are escalating threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice — and also sent to the prime minister, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court, and the president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) — the IFJ said that media professionals in Pakistan are facing mounting dangers while performing their professional duties. Earlier this year, the National Assembly passed a set of amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) under a supplementary agenda, significantly expanding the government's authority to regulate online content and penalise digital offences. PECA (Amendment) Act 2025 included provisions for the formation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will be empowered to remove online content, restrict access to prohibited material, and impose penalties on individuals who share such content. The amendments also broadened the definition of 'social media platforms' to encompass tools and software used to access these platforms. The revised law now extends its jurisdiction to include websites, applications and various communication channels. As part of the legislative changes, the FIA Cybercrime Wing is to be disbanded and replaced with a stricter framework of enforcement. Under the new rules, individuals sharing expunged material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media could face imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of Rs2 million. Read: Provinces made party to case against PECA amendments 'Journalists are being subjected to legal cases, harassment, and threats under the PECA law,' the federation stated, adding that Pakistan's government is a signatory to international conventions such as those of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations, which obligate it to protect fundamental rights. The IFJ noted that recent amendments to PECA have granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) powers to act without a formal complaint — a move it warns could be used to silence dissent and target journalists arbitrarily. 'These powers pose a serious risk of suppressing independent journalism and freedom of expression,' the letter said, urging the top court to direct the government to amend the law in consultation with PFUJ and other relevant stakeholders. The federation also expressed concern over the bypassing of high courts through direct appeals to the SC, calling it a 'circumvention of judicial process.' In its letter, the IFJ reported that at least seven journalists have been killed in Pakistan over the past year, with no perpetrators convicted in cases involving attacks or threats. The latest Press Freedom Report, it said, documented 34 violations, including physical assaults, harassment, online hate campaigns, and intimidation. Read more: Back to the cave: Where does PECA take us? Media workers, the IFJ said, also face systemic challenges such as non-payment of wages, unlawful dismissals, and significant security risks. Furthermore, legal barriers to unionization have been reinforced by recent state legislation, undermining workers' rights. 'Media professionals are being deprived of the right to unionize, and they do not have equal access to justice in the courts,' the letter read. The IFJ revealed it has dispatched two fact-finding missions to Pakistan, where representatives met with journalists, media owners, PFUJ leadership, and human rights advocates. The federation said it supports PFUJ's ongoing legal efforts, including a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court, which is still awaiting a final decision. Underlining the urgency of the situation, the IFJ appealed to the Chief Justice to immediately initiate a comprehensive judicial review of PECA, especially the amendments that grant sweeping powers to the FIA. 'Immediate action must be taken to protect press freedom under Article 19 of the Constitution,' the federation concluded.
Saba Yemen
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Media Office in Gaza: Number of Palestinian journalists martyred by Zionist fire rises to 228
Gaza – Saba: The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip announced that the number of Palestinian journalist martyrs has risen to 228 since the beginning of the genocidal crime committed by the Zionist enemy against the Gaza Strip. This comes after the martyrdom of journalist Ismail Abu Hatab in a Zionist airstrike on a Gaza City beach this afternoon, Monday. In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Government Media Office confirmed the martyrdom of journalist Ismail Abu Hatab, who worked as a photojournalist for several media outlets and had organized several photo exhibitions outside Palestine to convey the catastrophic reality of the situation in the Gaza Strip. The office condemned in the strongest terms the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli enemy, calling on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip. The government media office in Gaza held the Israeli enemy, the US administration, and countries complicit in the genocide, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, fully responsible for committing these heinous, brutal crimes. The government media office in Gaza called on the international community, international organizations, and organizations involved in journalism and media work in all countries of the world to condemn the crimes of the Israeli enemy, deter it, and prosecute it in international courts for its ongoing crimes. It also called on the criminals of the Zionist entity to be brought to justice. The media office also called on them to exert serious and effective pressure to halt the crime of genocide, protect journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip, and halt the killing and assassination of them. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Saba Yemen
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Gaza: Journalist death toll reaches 227 following Martyrdom of Moamen Abu al-Auf
Gaza – Saba: The Government Media Office in Gaza announced that the number of journalists martyred in the Gaza Strip has risen to 227, following the martydom of photojournalist Moamen Mohammed Abu al-Auf during a humanitarian mission east of Gaza. In a press statement early Tuesday morning, the Media Office reported that Abu al-Auf, who worked with several media outlets, was martyred along with three paramedics. The Media Office condemned the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli enemy. The office called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies worldwide to condemn these "systematic crimes." It holds the Israeli enemy the US administration, and complicit countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France fully responsible for these heinous crimes, urging the international community to condemn, deter, and prosecute the perpetrators in international courts. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Saba Yemen
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Government Media Office in Gaza: Number of martyred journalists rises to 225
Gaza – Saba: The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip condemned, on Wednesday, in the strongest terms, the systematic targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli enemy. In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the office called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and all journalistic bodies worldwide to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
